Robert Fisk's "Pity The Nation" is the most comprehensive, unbiased book ever written about the Lebanon's tragic civil war. Whereas most authors about this subject have written these books relying on newpaper clippings and rumours, and based on a very biased perspective, Fisk gets down and dirty from the beginning to the end. He has spent almost the entire period from 1975 until the war's conclusion in Lebanon, traveling from Beirut to Sidon to the Bekaa valley to the ignored villages of the south which were under occupation to Damascus, living out the war with the various militia's and the civilians, who took the brunt of the fighting. His detailed description of the rise and quick fall of the Phalangists and their leader, Bashir Gamayel America's ignorance towards what would bring peace to Lebanon, the links between the Shias' inspirational resurrection and Khomenei's revolution, Israel's bruatality, Syria's involvment and the misery of the Palestinian refugees is unparalleled in its depth and coverage. Fisk, through facing the realities of the situation, has a real understanding of the situation. The way he goes about describing the dire situation of the Lebanese and the Palestinians as well as the uncertainties he and his collegues feel about their safety in Lebanon, and the eventual kidnapping of Terry Anderson, makes this book read somewhat like a novel. Even if you know nothing about the Middle East, pick up this book.

As he does so regularly for the English newspaper "The Independent", Fisk provides a brilliant account and analysis of Lebanon. He is particularly good on the misreportage of events by the Western media, and on the Israeli propaganda machine, and his account of the kidnapping of his friend Terry Anderson is superb. Reading this book leaves you both sad and angry. Good accompanying reading is William Dalrymple's "From The Holy Mountain," in which he interviews Fisk.

The author provides a first hand account on the civil war that ravaged Lebanon for more than 15 years. Having been a journalist for the British Times and now the Independent in London, he lived and reported from the part of the country that suffered most, West Beirut. Robert Fisk provides detailed analysis of the war, the politics, and describes the gruesome attacks and massacres on civilians by the Israelis and their allies. He witnesses the kidnapping of his fellow journalists and narrowly escapes it himself. He discusses both the Syrian and Israeli invasions of Lebanon. The author maintains, as humanly possible, objectivism as he reports on this war with no winners. Excellent reading. Cynical writing. Good history book for non-lebanese and for those with little knowledge on the war.

Robert Fisk is a journalist but also a historian and an extremely talented writer. He has lived in Lebanon for 23 years now, not just to cover the stories there and throughout the Middle East, but because it is home to him and because he cares deeply for the Lebanese people. This is apparent in his book. Unlike just about all other books on the subject, Pity The Nation covers the war from a far more personal perspective. Mr. Fisk lets you know exactly what all the bombs and artillery shells did to normal people when they fell on their neighborhoods. He also gives an unprecedented view of the every day life of a war correspondent; the hardships, the horror, the fear, and even the boredom.

If you're a blind supporter of Israel, the PLO, any of the Lebanese factions, Syria, or even the US government, be prepared for some unpleasant truth!

But whatever the case, do read this book. You won't find this level of detail in ANY of the other popular books on the subject.

Robert Fisk(Beirut correspondent for "The Independent) was recently the target of death threats and vicious emails for his honest and unbiased reporting from the Middle East.
"Pity the Nation" is a readable and riveting account of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, and the consequences of the same for the Palestinians, Lebanese and the rest of the Middle East. This is essential reading for understanding the current situation in the Middle East, and all the more timely considering the current US posture towards Iraq.

The work stands above anything written by any contemprorary historian or journalist covering the Middle East. The questions, eye witness accounts, insights, and volume of information is overwhelming. Whereas Robert Fisk paints a dark portrait of the Israelis, he doesn't pull any punches describing the Palestinians either. Heroes and victims all using words and deeds to muddy the water in their favor. Nobody leaves this book without a profound sense of the depth of differences and issues necessary to address before any peace can really be achieved in the Middle East.

This book deals with Irish neutrality during the second world war. There are many myths attached to Irish neutrallity, stories of the IRA refeulling U-boats and threats of aggression from Britian. This book goes to the source and destroys the rumours, and holds up the facts. It also goes deeply into the political undercurrents that kept Ireland out of the second world war. Ireland held (in the first half of WWII) an extremely important strategic position. The british had abandonned three navy ports (against the advice of Winston Churchill) which would have protected the atlantic convoys against the german u-boats in 1938. Had these ports not been abandonned it is probable that the Irish could not have been neutral. The british only threatened to Invade the "Irish Free state" if they were being starved out by the U boat blockade, and would only have done this to re take the strategic ports. Interestingly the IRA were hunted down on both sides of the partition and several were hung in Dubblin during WWII. The IRA in NI were pro nazi, but there is no evidence for them helping in any significant way the Nazis. For students of Irish history this would make a very good begining point, the 1940's and WWII are not too distant in history and it looks back in enough detail to give the causes for the actions in the first half of the 1940's and sets the scene for the Irish declaration of the republic in 1947, and the subsequent absorbtion of NI into the UK in 1949. Another interesting fact is how the german bombings of Dubblin and Belfast had an enormous effect on the population there. Although light in comparison to the treatment dealt out to English cities the population of belfast was terrified into sleeping outside in the countryside. The population of Dubblin, far from being incensed at the germans bombing them, held tighter to neutrallity. Also of interest is the fact the Roseavelt wanted to invade Eire to use the strategic ports. This book destroyed alot of myths for me, and let me understand the politics of the Island alot better.

I found Mr.O'shea's book interesting,especially the objective parts of it; interviews,letters and case stories. Several times though the objectiveness faltered and one had to read about the author's personal views and insignificant problems for ECCM personel, compared to what the Bihac people had to live thru. Accounts of how life in Bihac town was, stories from and about local people, and their views on how life in Bosnia might have ended had the US not broken the weapons embargo, were missing.And then perhaps a subjective epilog from the author on how to survive an onslaught by an army, which is supported with men and material from the JNA.

Fighting in the Bihac Pocket of northern Bosnia pitted not only the usual antagonists against one another but also saw one Muslim warlord fight in tandem with Serbs against the regular Muslim army. The result was havoc on a scale remarkable even for the war in Bosnia. Brendan O'Shea was present as a UN military observer and uses his firsthand knowledge and special access to original sources to document the startling and terrible effects of a civil war within a civil war. O'Shea also gives us an insight into the perils of demonizing any group (read the Serbs). Like any corruption of the truth, this behavior allows other, equally reprehensible types to get away with the very same atrocities without condemnation (read the Croats). The book further reminds us that hope can come from the most bizarre quarters, especially in this most bizarre part of the world. In December 1994, at a small cafe in Plains, Georgia, a waitress with a southern drawl interrupted a group at a table. She had a long distance call for one of them, who happend to be a representative of former President Jimmy Carter. The call was from Radovan Karadzic and he was putting an offer for a cease fire on the table (literally). And the cease fire held, at least for a time. Only in the Balkans.

This is a book well worth reading, not merely as helpful advice but as well as being an amusing read.